Mason Cox embarked on a special trip to the MCG on Sunday afternoon with an important mission – convince US Vice President Joe Biden to become a Collingwood fan.

Armed with a Black and White scarf and a personalised jumper, complete with ‘Biden’ and the number 46 on the back, Cox entered the unknown of meeting the dignified guest.

“As soon as you realise he’s starting to roll in, all the press starts coming in and then you see about ten security guards and secret service come out and then you see Joe behind them,” Cox recalled of the experience.

“It’s full on.”

Before meeting at the MCG match between Carlton and West Coast even took place, Collingwood’s 211cm ruckman was subject to an investigation.

The US Consulate in Melbourne requested his full details and social security number and told him not to inform anyone of what was ahead.

It was a task made easier by the fact that Cox didn’t really know himself what this ‘special meeting’ entailed.

“For security reasons you couldn’t say anything before,” the American told Collingwood Media.

“You just had to go under the radar with the whole thing publically or put it on any social media or anything.

“I had no idea who it was. Sure enough, last week, at the beginning of the week I was informed that it was the Vice President coming to town.”

Many Australians would perhaps understate the importance of meeting the man who sits just one rung below Barack Obama in the US government.

For Texan-native Cox, it only took a look at Biden’s support crew to comprehend just how big of a deal it was.

“He rolls around with 30 to 40 cars in his motorcade, so it’s quite a big deal.

“It’s a big deal to meet him, and an even bigger deal to shake his hand.”



US Vice Presiden Joe Biden inspects the MCG surface with Mike Fitzpatrick (left), Gillon McLachlan and MCC President Stephen Smith.

In the US, formal titles are commonly used when addressing people of significance. A girlfriend’s parents would be ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr so-and-so’ and Nathan Buckley would be ‘coach Buckley’, not ‘Bucks’.

So you can imagine when meeting one of the highest-ranked dignitaries in the country, Mr Vice President would be the choice of title.

“I called him Joe. I know, it’s a bit weird,” Cox said with a laugh.

“You’d probably say Mr VP or Mr Biden, but the way he came in there he was just laughing and having a good time and just really relaxed.

“He was very laid back and wanted to have a good time and experience what AFL was.”

Biden sat in the MCG grandstand with Cox on his right and Carlton rookie and Carlton American rookie Matt Korcheck on his left.



Cox sits with Joe Biden (middle) and Matthew Korcheck (right).

The three watched and discussed the finer points of Aussie Rules as West Coast narrowly defeated the Blues by seven points.

Cox appeared to sell the sport to Biden effectively, but did he do enough to convince the Vice President to walk away as a Collingwood supporter?

“Everyone was having a joke with what team he was going to pick,” Cox said.

“Carlton went all out with their stuff and I ended up giving him a jumper and a scarf and took a picture with him.

“The foreign Minister Julie Bishop was there and she used to be on the West Coast board… she had a West Coast scarf on. The first thing she did pretty much when we sat down was throw it over his shoulders.

“He was really happy that everyone was helping him out.”

In true diplomat style, it appears the Vice President walked away undecided.

But if there’s ever a sighting in Washington DC of a man wearing a Black and White jumper with ‘Biden No.46’ on the back, we’ll know Cox completed his mission.